Eyelet.



F.. H. RICHARDS. HELBT. APPLICATION EILED JAN. 9, 1902.

910,861 I Patented Jan. 26, 1909.

fhg.; y In@ 7 ff 2.1, 'l' ang.

1HE xmms Pinks co., wAsHmamN, n. c

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

EYELET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 26, 1909.

Application filed January 9, 1902. Serial No. 88,964.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Eyelets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to eyelets such as used in shoes and other articles, and its objects are to improve the construction thereof .and also to improve the method of applying eyelets to leather or other material.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a metallic blank. Fig. 2 is a plan of the metal portion of the eyelet or orrommet. Fie'. 3 is a section thereof on the tfine 3 3 indicated in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section of a sheet of material employed for making casing blanks or caps for the eyelets. Fig. 5 illustrates a stage in formin a cap from the Fig. 4 material. Figs. 6 an 7 show, respectively, sectional and plan views of a completed blank for a cap. Fig. 8 shows a crosssection of a cap p aced upon the Fig. 2 article, this section being taken at a point between the turned down or bent prongs upon the metal grommet shown in Fig. 2. Fig. Sa is a cross section showing the same step shown in Fig. 8, the section, however, being taken through a pair of the turned down or bent prongs. Fig. 9 shows the cap molded in position and the eyelet finished, the section being taken at a point between the turned down or bent prongs. Fig. 9a is also a sectional view showing the cap placed in position and the eyelet finished as illustrated in Fig. 9, the cross section, however, being taken through a pair of the turned down or bent prongs. Fig. 1() is a crosssection, and Fig. l1 an inverted plan, of an article eyeleted in accordance with my improvements.

In the several views similar parts are designated by similar characters of reference.

I form a sheet-metal annulus 20, having projections 21, preferably four, which are subsequently punched down at right angles to said annulus to form attaching prongs 21 a. Said prongs lie within the outer border or peripheral line of annulus 20, being preferably punched so as to leave recesses 22 in the latter, which forms the head of the grommet. The open center 23 of the annulus is intended for a lacing passage, and preferably equals in diameter a hole 24, Fig.

- L11, formed in the material 25 to be eyeleted.

Aof the eyelet hole 24 in the material.

The prongs 21a are adapted to be bent at the points either inwardly or outwardly, and in either osition to cooperate with the head 20 to c ench the material 25.

In capping the annular head 20 I employ material consisting preferably of a ply of fabric 26 confined between two plies of Celluloid 27 and 28, the three plies being preferably compacted under heat and pressure and being in suoli condition as to permit subsequent reduction of the Celluloid to a plastic condition upon the application of heat so as to enable the same to be molded into a cap upon the grommet.

By suitable tools I forni in the Fig. 4 material an annular depression 29, surrounding a cupped portion 30. I then cut out the bottom of the cup so as to leave a central opening 30a, and then triin off the surrounding fabric, thereby leaving a channeled cap blank A, Figs. 6 and 7, comprising an annulus 31, having an outer rim 32 and an inner rim 33, said cap being adapted to i'it down upon the head of the Fig. 3 grommet, and inclose said head vupon three sides, as at Fig. 8.

The parts thus assembled are placed between heating and forming dies, whereby the Celluloid is rendered plastic and caused to fill the cavities 22 and completely inclose the annulus 20, leaving only the prongs 21L visible, as seen at Fig. 9, thus forming a complete eyelet having prongs adapted to be inserted in the material at points outside of the eyelet opening in the material 25. The annulus of celluloid 26a, Fig. 8, is wrapped or coiled around the outer and inner edges of said head and against the underside thereof, as at 26h.

The material or leather 25 may be provided outside of the eyelet hole 24 with small perforations 34, for receiving the prongs 21, which after insertion may be bent either outwardly, as at 2lb, Figs. 10 and 11, or inwardly, as at 21C; and in the latter case the point of the prong may also be bent up at 21d to form a partial lining for the inner surac ai lining may be set at a portion of said hole close to the edge 25a ofthe material, so as to receive the 'wear of the lacing and protect the leather from cutting or other injury.

As seen at Figs. 9 and 10, my improved cap may be formed very thin, so as vnot to protrude unduly from the material, thus conducing to the neat appearance of the article. By compounding the cap of fabric and celliiloid, 1 form a durable eyelet, the material of the cap being proof against chipping or cracking, the fabric toughening the material to a phenomenal degree and rendering the eyelet practicall f indestructible. By incasing the top, bottom and both edges of' thegannulus 20, the cap is inseparably secured thereto and forms upon the under side a broad ilat seat for fastening upon the material.

One important advantage oi my improvement is that the annular head projects upon both sides of the prongs 21a, as seen at Fig. 10, the material of the cap being wrapped or molded beneath both the outer and inner edges of the annulus, thereby preventing the edges of the metal from protruding, and leaving only a facing of Celluloid visible. The grommet may, if desired, be made of thicker or stronger material than usual in the case of tubular eyelets. Moreover, the insertion of the prongs at separate points around and Without the eyelet hole 2li, prevents twisting or loosening` of the eyelet in the material; and by turning the prongs out, as at 2lb, a more extended bearing or clench than heretofore is obtained. By using a grommet vwhose head is a iiat ring and projects upon each side of the securing devices, a lat and neat casing may be produced.

Having described my invention, 1 claiml. An eyelet member comprising a `llat annular head of sheet metal provided with a circular series of tongues projecting on one side from the head between the periphery and the inner edge, and adapted to penetrate the material a short distance beyond the aperture and thereupon be bent inward against the face of the material and upward against the wall of the aperture.

2. An eyelet member comprising a ilat annular head of sheet metal provided with a ircular series or tongues projecting on one side from the head between the periphery and the inner edge, and adapted to penetrate the material a short distance beyond the aperture and thereupon be bent inward against the face of the material and upward against the wall of the aperture, the head having peripheral notches where the tongues are bent therefrom.

3. An eyelet member comprising a ilat annular head of sheet metal provided with a circular series of tongues projecting on one side from the head between the periphery and the inner edge, and adapted to penetrate the material a short distance beyond the aperture and thereupon be bent inward against the face or the material and upward against the wall of the aperture, and a cap molded upon the annular portion of the head and incasing the same.

4. An eyelet member comprising a flat annular head of sheet metal provided with a circular series of tongues projecting on one side from the head between the periphery and the inner edge, and adapted to penetrate the material va short distance beyond the aperture and thereupon be bent inward against the tace of the material and upward vagainst the wall of the aperture, the head having peripheral notches where the tongues are bent therefrom, and a cap molded upon the annular portion of the head and incasing the same.

5. An eyelet member comprising a ilat annular head oi' sheet metal provided with a circular series of tongues projectingv on one side from the head between the periphery and the inner edge, and adapted to penetrate the material a short distance beyond the aperture and thereupon be bent inward against the face of the material Vand upward against the wall of the aperture, the head having peripheral notches where the tongues are bent therefrom, and a cap molded upon the annular portion of the head and incasing the same, the material ot the cap extending into said recess portions.

6. An eyelet member comprising a flat annular head or sheet metal provided with a circular series of tongues projecting lon one side from the head between the periphery and the inner edge, and adapted to penetrate the material a short distance beyond the aperture and thereupon be bent inward against the face ci the material and upward against the wall or' the aperture, the head having peripheral notches where the tongues are bent therefrom, and a cap of fabric and celluloid molded upon the flat portion of the head with portions extending into the recesses thereof.

7. An eyelet comprising an annular head, a cap of hard, wear-resisting material molded upon and incasing said head, the central opening in said incased head serving as a lacing passage, and a plurality of prongs proj ecting from said head and adapted to be inserted in the material to be eyeleted at points ouside of the eyelet hole in said material, and also adapted to be bent or formed so as to clench the eyelet upon said material.

8. An eyelet comprising an annular sheetmetal head, a cap of hard, wear-resisting material incasing the inner and outer edges and also the top and bottom sides of said head, and a plurality of prongs integral with said head and projecting from points between the inner and outer borders thereof, and adapted to enter the material to be eyeleted at points without the eyelet-hole therein, and to clench the eyelet upon said material.

9. An eyelet comprising a sheet-metal grommet, said grommet consisting of an annular head portion and a plurality of prongs punched and bent up from said head portion so as to form recesses therein and a cap of hard, wear-resisting material molded and compressed upon said head and filling said recesses and incasing said head upon all sides.

10. Aneyelet comprising an annular sheet- I head and comprising a layer of cloth commetal lfead incased in celluloid, and a plurality of prongs projecting from said head and outlying the central opening in said head; said prongs being adapted to be inserted in the material to be eyeleted at points outside of the eyelet-hole in said material, and at least one of said prongs being of sufficient length to bend up inside of said ey elet-hole so as to form a partial lining therefor.

11. An eyelet comprising an annular sheet metal head incased in celluloid, and a plurality of prongs projecting from said head and outlying the central opening in said head; said prongs being adapted to be inserted in the material to be eyeleted at points outside of the eyelet hole in said material, at least one of said prongs being of sufficient length to bend up inside of said hole so as to form a partial lining therefor, and at least one other of said prongs being opposite to said lining prong.

12. An eyelet comprising an annulus of hard, Wear-resisting, moldable material reinforced with fabric, and a plurality of separated metallic prongs projecting from points Without the inner border of said annulus.

13. An eyelet comprising an annulus of met al incased in a compound cap of fabric and celluloid, and a plurality of prongs for attaching said annulus to the material to be eyeleted.

14. An eyelet comprising an annulus of metal upon which is molded and compressed an annulus of fabric faced with hard, Wearresisting material and a plurality of devices for attaching said annulus to the material to be eyeleted; said devices lying Without the central opening or lacing passage in said annulus.

15. An eyelet comprising an annulus of metal, and a cap compounded of cloth and hard, Wear-resisting material, and a plurality of prongs projecting from points between the inner and outer borders of said annulus; said fabric being curled or Wrapped around both the inner and outer edges of said annulus of metal.

16. An eyelet comprising an annular head of rigid material, a cap molded upon said pounded With celluloid, said cloth being Wrapped around both the inner and outer edges of said annular head, and a plurality of metallic prongs projecting from said head and adapted to be inserted in the material to be eyeleted at points outside of the eyelethole in said material.

17. An eyelet comprising a sheet-metal grommet, said grommet consisting of an annular head portion and a plurality of prongs struck up from said head portion so as to form recesses therein; and a cap or annulus of fabric and a hard, Wear-resisting material molded and compressed upon said head and filling said recesses and incasing said head upon all sides thereof.

18. An eyelet comprising an annular sheetmetal head incased in a cap consisting of fabric faced upon both sides with celluloid, and a plurality of prongs projecting from said head at points Without the central opening or lacing passage therein; said prongs being adapted to be inserted in the material to be eyeleted at points outside of the eyelethole in the latter, and at least one of said prongs being of sufficient length to bend up inside of said hole so as to form a partial lining therefor.

19. An eyelet comprising a sheet-metal annulus incased upon both its outer and inner edges and also upon both top and bottom With a cap consisting of fabric faced upon both sides With celluloid and molded and compressed upon said annulus; and means for attaching said annulus to the material to be eyeleted.

20. An eyelet comprising a fiat annulus of metal and a thin fiat cap of cloth faced upon both sides With Celluloid and molded upon said annulus; said cloth curling or Wrapping over both the inner and outer edges of said annulus; and a set of prongs projecting from said annulus between the inner and outer borders of said cap.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS.

litnesses:

B. C. STICKNEY, JOHN O. SEIFERT. 

